Results 6,301-6,320 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding for a new school project. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and has been assigned a band rating of 1.1. Following a site examination it was established that additional land...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of identifying the areas where significant additional accommodation will be required at primary and post-primary level over the coming years. Factors under consideration include population growth, demographic trends, current and projected enrolments, recent and planned housing developments and capacity of existing schools and the...

Written Answers — Home Tuition Grants: Home Tuition Grants (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides a grant to parents to facilitate the provision of education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. My Officials are currently reviewing this application and have written to the child's parents and school to seek additional information.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority - i.e. the relevant local authority or Vocational Education Committee. The student referred to by the Deputy should seek information or clarification directly from the relevant assessing authority. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases,...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The following are the number of second level students who took the following subjects, Physics, Chemistry and Biology in the 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 school years. Physics 2006/2007 19,996 2007/2008 20,270 2008/2009 20,207 Chemistry 2006/2007 - 19,358 2007/2008 - 20,123 2008/2009 - 21,177 Biology 2006/2007 - 61,337 2007/2008 - 63,441 2008/2009 - 66,284 The figures for each...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I have asked my officials to undertake a review of policy options relating to the introduction of a form of student contribution. There are many complex and competing considerations involved. These include considerations relating to institutional funding, family affordability, equity, participation and value for money for the taxpayer. However, it is an issue that merits consideration at this...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 1.2 rating. The project is awaiting the appointment of a Design Team. The progression of all large...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for capital funding for a new school building. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning. Planning permission has been granted on this project. In February, I announced details of 43 major building projects to proceed to tender and construction and 25 high priority projects to commence architectural planning. The Deputy will understand that it is not possible to...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The legislation which governs eligibility to Parental Leave is set out in the Parental Leave Act, 1998 and the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act, 2006. The Department responsible for the preparation and enactment of legislation in relation to Parental Leave is the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform. As the proposals made in your question represent significant changes to the existing...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy is aware, the proposed project for the school to which she refers involves the acquisition of a site. The progression of the project from site acquisition and initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. In light of current competing demands on the capital budget...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department agreed to pay €10,000 to the landowners referred to by Deputy in April 2008 for an additional piece of land at the school in question. The €10,000 was to be paid upon receipt of a signed Deed of Rectification from the vendors. The CSSO, who is acting of behalf of my Department, has confirmed that they did not receive the signed Deed of Rectification and accompanying...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to primary and post primary schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Delegates Allowance is payable to officers who attend meetings abroad as part of a delegation representing this country fir example at EU meetings, other international organisations or with representatives of other Governments. Payment in respect of delegate's allowance is made through my Department's payroll and the sum is taxable and subject to pay related social insurance. In the years...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am advised that the Chief State Solicitors Office (CSSO) which acts on behalf of the Department, has written to the local authority's legal representatives seeking clarification on the proposal. My Department is advised that a response is awaited. As soon as the CSSO query has been addressed, I have instructed my officials to progress same as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 644 to 647, inclusive, together. The review of the procedures for the recognition of new primary schools is underway under the Commission on School Accommodation. Pending the outcome of the review, new schools will not be established for reasons unrelated to demographic growth in areas where there is already sufficient school accommodation or where increases...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: Draft legislation to put in place a legal framework which will facilitate the involvement of Vocational Education Committees (VECs) in the provision of primary education is currently in preparation. It has been decided that it is proper that the role and responsibility of VECs in relation to the patronage of primary schools should be set forth in primary legislation and brought before the...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: As the Deputy will be aware the Department has provided significant additional school accommodation in that general area, which should relieve pressure on enrolments at the school to which she refers. The Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of identifying the areas where significant additional accommodation will be required at primary and post-primary level for future...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. In February, I announced details of 43 major building projects to proceed to tender and construction and 25 high priority projects to commence architectural planning. The Deputy will understand that it is not possible to advance all projects at the same time. It was not possible to include the...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (7 Jul 2009)

Batt O'Keeffe: My Department's officials have reviewed its printing contracts for the past five years and I can confirm that no print jobs were carried out by companies based outside the Republic of Ireland during this period.